Monthly Archives: September 2010

Good News Self-Titled EP Review

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Kalamazoo math rock duo Good News performed a while back at the No Fun where I happened to pick up their self-titled EP.

They look like this:

Good News is a very talented duo, with Ryan Pate on Drums and Brett Jacobsen on guitar. When you first pop their EP in your walkman the first thing you’re going to notice is a smooth, gliding, sweeping guitar supported by precise and driving drums. You’re going to find that this is one of the reasons that Good News is so aesthetically pleasing; they stick to a solid, consistent sound, and do it well.

Their influences, which you can find on their myspace, illuminate the origins of their sound. When I saw them live The Mars Volta jumped out at me immediately as something similar (albeit without vocals); However, on their first track specifically, I felt a little more of The Mercury Program going on.

That being said, and without further genre-fication or comparisons to previous acts, this EP was terrific. Track two has this frenzied feel that loops around and finds itself, varying slightly in short and precise riffs. Track three continues on this kind of organic, just intensely groovy feel wherein the drum goes nuts, and the guitar (he does this with a loop pedal live) plays and then plays over itself…these different quick and precise riffs. This then degrades itself and you end up on the fourth track, which is this more cinematic and emotional jam.

Good News then, with the fifth track, busts out their longest song, a 5 minute epic with lots of effects, blowin’ yer mind. Track six is a driving, upbeat, mad song that ends abruptly into reverse guitars and then…an uptempo and feverish seventh, that has a finale befitting the end of an album, or ep, or whatever.

I would say that this has re-playability. As in, I would listen to it again. I’m pretty sure all of the tracks I detailed here that were on the CD are also on their myspace. Or you could just catch them around sometime cuz they’ll probably be doing shows at the No Fun House or the Strutt or just around Kalamazoo and then you can get their CD…it’s pretty awesome.

Scout Niblett, New Spryghts, Fiona Dickinson, Holy Sons TONIGHT

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I truly believe Scout Niblett could burn down all of our hearts if she chooses.

Also representing England this evening will be our own Fiona Dickinson, singing hauntingly beautiful folk music that will slip right through the cracks into your broken heart. Portland’s Holy Sons will take you on a mellow psychedelic trip through your childhood. Kalamazoo’s progressive rock geniuses the New Spryghts will release their long awaited record, taking you far away from anything you might recognize into the realm of the strange and the mystical.

Starts at 8 pm, $12 at the door… this show will be amazing.

Netherfriends at No Fun!!!!

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Lovers of catchy, psychedelic, strange pop music: I know you’re out there. Tonight, all your dreams come true at the No Fun House. Netherfriends made an appearance at the Pitchfork Festival this summer and are now embarking on a long and winding tour across America. This is going to be one you don’t want to miss. JUST WATCH THE FREAKIN’ VIDEO. DON’T IT LOOK LIKE FUN?????????

Everyone and their Empty Cups and Jeremy Ruggles & the Mind Death Quintet will provide local support. 9 Pm sharp, no drugs/booze, $2 suggested donation… DO IT TOGETHER

The Tuna Has Been Won

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after three grueling nights of combat, The Fight for the Tuna has come to a staggering culmination. Bands played. Haterade was sipped. Votes were cast, counted, recounted, double-checked for hanging chads, and finalized. The numbers are in, and it is good.

This year’s winner is Kalamazoo’s very own Coma Nova. They’re awesome, and it’s equally as awesome that they get to open for Cheap Girls, Wolf Eyes, and of course Lightening Bolt. It will be a sight and a show to be certain.

Barking Tuna Fest Occurs this Octorber 7th, 8th, and 9th. Tickets are on sale around town (The Strutt specifically) and go for 12 bucks a night or 30 for a festival pass. All three nights are at The Strutt, and all three nights are gonna be a blast.

Tonight, though, there’s a free and excellent show at No Fun House. There’s also a slightly more expensive and equally as awesome show at The Strutt (12 bucks at the door, 10 bucks presale) featuring A Place To Bury Strangers, of Brooklyn Crash City Saints of Kalamazoo, and Skeleton Party of nearby Grand Rapids. If you’re looking for something to do, no excuses.

See you there, Kalamazoo.

Come On, Feel The Noise Rock!

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This Friday! The No Fun House is being overrun by a bunch of dirty noise rockers. Hide your mothers and children. It’s going to be wild.

First up is Grand Rapids’ Victory!. Not to be confused with Kalamazoo’s HMS, Victory!. I know it’s confusing. Just trust me. Victory! is a two piece Noise Core Rot band. You may know them as Sam and Brandon from the new line up of Spit For Athena. You may not know them at all. Even more of a reason to come to the show then. This is punk rock like you’ve never heard it before. Get ready.

Next up, Divorce Party will be making their Kalamazoo debut. Do you like The Locust, Arab On Radar, or AIDS Wolf? Then I personally guarantee that you will love Divorce Party. Listen for yourself:

http://divorceparty.bandcamp.com/album/divorce-party-ep

Rounding out the night will be local Post Everything Free Jazz Freak Out Rockers, Forget The Times. Three guitars and a drummer who sometimes plays saxophone. Bring earplugs.

All this craziness goes down Friday October 1st at the No Fun House. 9pm sharp. No punk rock time. If you don’t know the address, shoot us an email at ditkalamazoo@gmail.com. $2 suggested donation for the traveling bands.

See you there!

Tonight at the Strutt…Mind DEATH!

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Things could get messy. We’re kind of hoping your mind melts into a liquid and drips through your nose.

JEREMY RUGGLES AND THE MIND DEATH QUINTET will be battling three other bands for some Tuna. Specifically, the kind of Tuna that features bands like Lightning Bolt, King Kahn, Casiotone, Dan Deacon and Wolf Eyes.

Other bands competing for a slot at the Barking Tuna Festival are worthy opponents Skeleton Party, Nunca Duerma and Coma Nova. Cover is $3. Show starts at nine. Let’s have some fun.

Daniel Francis Doyle returns to Kalamazoo Oct. 3

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If you caught Daniel Francis Doyle’s set at La Iglesia last time he came through town, you probably experienced the same sense of perplexity, surprise, and delight that I did. He’s a man with three first names and he works a loop pedal like no one else I’ve seen.

Doyle will start out a song by recording a random and incomprehensible series of guitar phrases that I’m sure only the man himself can wrap his mind around; he’ll then pause what he has looped, sit down at a drum set, and proceed to simultaneously manipulate the guitar playback along to his drumming – all while singing into a headset mic. It’s a remarkable display of creativity. Check out the video below to get a better understanding of what this one man alone can pull off.

Doyle is just about to begin a lengthy tour that has him on the road all the way through the month of October until the middle of November. He’ll be making the Strutt the fourth stop of his trip. Joining him will be three bands from across Michigan – newer Kalamazoo act, That’s Blood, who bring the shred in a hard way with their proggy, aggressive sound; Ferndale’s brilliantly mathematical The Summer Pledge; and the hyper-energetic punk frenzy of Radiator Hospital from Grand Rapids.

Jokes and Hatchets.

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Tonight at No Fun House, both of these things will be tossed through the air liberally and with abandon. The evening will begin with some decidedly bent humor from Barsen Miller and Jarad Selner, collectively known as BC.

After the lulz have flowed freely, John Van Hattum (aka JUGGLING AT LARGE) will juggle bowling pins, hatchets, torches, small animals and whatever else he can get his hands on. This guy’s a pro… do not miss!

Above: JVH juggles a prosthetic leg that costs about as much as a SUV.

This show has no cover, but the hat will be passed for the performers, so give generously and support Kalamazoo’s funkiest fringe of artists!

They Come From Osaka, Japan!

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This Wednesday, The Strutt is hosting a legend. The amazing Shonen Knife!This all girl pop punk power trio paved the way for Japanese bands and was the first big band from their country to tour the USA. Shonen Knife has recorded some of the greatest and catchiest pop punk songs of all time. And they’ve been doing it since 1981!

An incredibly respected band, SK has toured with Sonic Youth, Nirvana and Mudhoney. Thurston Moore even helped put together a tribute album featuring some of the coolest underground artists of the day covering SK songs.

This is pop punk as it should be. Super fun, fast and short. With songs that only leave you wanting more. Don’t believe me? Check them out yourself:

Joining the fun is Kill Rock Stars Records’ Grass Widow. GW is another all girl power trio but with a slightly different sound. GW have perfected that lo-fi 60s revival indie pop sound that has been going on lately. They are very quickly making a name for themselves. Chances are, you’ll be hearing a lot more of them in the near future.

Locals on this show are the amazing Glowfriends from Kalamazoo and Swimsuit from Ypsilanti. If you’re a lover of local music, you’ve probably already heard these two great bands. But, just in case, here’s some cool videos for you: